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Capitol Notes
WI: Weekly Political and Legislative Update |
TO: Clients/Friends of Capitol Consultants, Inc./Wimmer & Company, S.C.
FROM: Capitol Consultants, Inc.
& Wimmer Company, S.C.
DATE: April 13, 2012
SUBJECT: Weekly Political and Legislative Update
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RECALL: Gubernatorial Race Update
This was a busy week on the gubernatorial election front; nomination signatures were due for all of the Democratic and Republican candidates looking to challenge Governor Scott Walker and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, the Democratic candidates aired their first ads and Governor Walker officially kicked off his re-election campaign and released two ads of his own.
On Tuesday, all four of the major Democratic candidates; Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Secretary of State Douglas LaFollette and State Senator Kathleen Vinehout submitted the necessary signatures to be on the ballot.
The two major candidates also rolled out endorsements signaling the strength of their support in the primary;
- Mayor Tom Barrett collected a bunch of endorsements these week from current and former leaders of the Democratic Party in the state, including US Senator Herb Kohl, former Congressman Dave Obey (D-Wausau), former Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton (D-Green Bay), Outagamie County Executive Thomas Nelson and former Brown County Executive Nancy Nusbaum. Barrett also collected three union endorsements this week; the Amalgamated Transit Union, Operating Engineers Local 317, and the Iron Workers District Council of North Central States
- Former County Executive Falk was endorsed by the 250,000 member Wisconsin AFL-CIO and Voces de la Frontera an immigrant's right group which was very visible in the protests surrounding the budget bill. They join WEAC, EMILY's List, AFSCME, SEIU, SEIU Healthcare WI, AFT, Clean Wisconsin, UFCW, IBEW Local 159, Young Progressives of WI, the Sierra Club, the Women's Campaign Fund and the Building Trades and Construction Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin who have endorsed Falk's campaign.
- Governor Scott Walker collected the endorsements of the Wisconsin Realtors Association, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, the Milwaukee Police Association and the Milwaukee Professional Fire Fighters Association over the last week.
This week the Democratic Primary took to the airwaves for the first time with two of the candidates rolling out their introductory ads.
Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk was first the first out of the gate with her ad, called, "Wisconsin Way." The ad focuses on her record as County Executive in Dane County and how she will "bring Wisconsin back together as governor." The ad can be viewed at this link: http://api.vzaar.com/videos/962367.embed (Note: only YouTube videos create a preview picture in Constant Contact, and the Falk campaign does not have their ads up on YouTube, that is why her ad is the only one without a preview pic)
Milwaukee Mayor Barrett also introduced his first ad of the campaign on Wednesday, called "Civil." In the ad Barrett states that as governor he'll focus on jobs and education, and will "fight to restore collective bargaining rights for teachers and public employees."  | | Mayor Barrett's First Ad |
Independent groups are also making their presence known in the race. The Republican Lieutenant Governor's Association did an independent ad supporting Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch. The RLGA ad highlights the "elimination of the $3.6 billion budget deficit without raising taxes" and a "cut in property taxes" for the first time in 3 years.  | RLGA Ad in Support of Kleefisch
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AFSCME WSEU Council 24, the state's largest public employee union distributed a video to their membership late last week critical of Mayor Barrett's role in the debate surrounding 2011 Act 10, the budget repair bill that contained the collective bargaining provisions. Over the weekend AFSCME posted a message on their website acknowledging feedback from membership on the video it passed around to members. The message stated that they admit that they "went over the top" in their criticism of Barrett and said they used poor judgment in sending it out. However, the union leadership continued to question Barrett's relationship with public employees while praising Kathleen Falk's, who the union has endorsed. Here is the statement. Former Congressman Dave Obey, in his endorsement of Mayor Barrett was very critical of the ad and the critique of Mayor Barrett's support for labor ( WRN Article). You can see the AFSCME video in question below.  | | Barrett: How to Ram Through Act 10 ... "The Bill Should Pass" |
Governor Walker's campaign also released two ads this week; one targeting Mayor Barrett and one targeting former County Executive Falk. The anti-Falk and Barrett ads attack Governor Walker's opponents on their records on taxes, spending and jobs.
 | | Walker Ad: "Going Back-Kathleen Falk" |
 | | Walker Ad: "Backwards-Tom Barrett" |
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November General Election Updates
In addition to all of the recall activities underway for May and June, April 15th marks the first date the nomination papers can be circulated for candidates for the November election. Because of this, several current members of the Legislature and those considering joining those ranks have made their intentions known.
We expect a few more announcements in the near future, but here is a recap of all announcements of current lawmakers intentions that we have compiled to date:
Wisconsin State Assembly members leaving:
- Mark Pocan (D- Madison)- running for Congress (Baldwin seat)
- Kelda Roys (D-Madison)- running for Congress (Baldwin seat)
- Donna Seidel (D-Wausau) - running for State Senate (Galloway seat)
- Barbara Toles (D-Milwaukee)
- Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) - running for US Senate (Kohl seat)
- Michelle Litjens (R-Oshkosh)
- Dan Meyer (R-Eagle River)
- Dick Spanbauer (R-Oshkosh)
- Karl Van Roy (R-Green Bay)
- Bob Ziegelbauer (I-Manitowoc)
- Tom Tiffany (R-Merrill)- running for State Senate (Holperin seat)
- Mark Radcliffe (D-Black River Falls)
- Bob Turner (D-Racine)
Wisconsin State Senators leaving:
- Pam Galloway (R-Wausau)- resigned her seat
- Jim Holperin (D-Conover)- retiring
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Presidential Preference Primary Post-Mortem and General Election Preview
Now that the 2012 Republican Presidential Primary is essentially over we thought it would be a good time to look back at the 2008 Presidential Race nationally and in Wisconsin, do a post-mortem on the 2012 GOP Presidential Primary in Wisconsin and start to focus on indicators for the Nov. 6th, 2012 General Election.
In the linked slide deck you will find the following:
- Results of the 2008 race statewide, comparisons to 2004 and where the race was at this point in 2008.
- Review of 2012 pre-GOP Primary election polling, the results and exit polling of note.
- A look to November with key dates, the current status of the electoral map, and the current status of the race based on WI and national polling.
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Fundraisers Coming Up
Monday, April 16th
Campaign kickoff for Dianne Hesselbein
5 p.m.
With Special Guest Senator Mark Miller
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Lakeview Park
6300 Mendota Avenue
Middleton, WI
Suggested donation: $35
www.dianne4assembly.com
Fundraiser for Kathleen Falk
5 p.m.
O'Reilly & Conway's Irish Pub,
214 W. Milwaukee St., Janesville.
Suggested Minimum Contribution $35
contact Lily at LilyJ@KathleenFalk.com or (608) 620 - FALK
Fundraiser for Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt
6 p.m.
Sunset Supper Club,
N7364 Winnebago Drive,
Fond du Lac.
With special guest Co-Chair of Joint Finance Robin Vos.
All PAC and individual contributions gratefully accepted.
Please send contributions to:
Citizens for Jeremy Thiesfeldt
604 Sunset Lane
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
RSVP may be by email to jjt1@charter.net or by phone to (920) 933-2086.
Tuesday, April 17th
Fundraiser for Tom Barrett
5:30 p.m.
At the home of Eric and Jayne Butlein
9303 N Valley Hill Road River Hills, Wisconsin
Sponsorships Available:
Host: $1,000 ~ Co-Host: $500 ~ Friend: $250
suggested contribution: $100
Please RSVP and contribute online via www.barrettforwisconsin.com
Wednesday, April 18th Fundraiser for Falk for Wisconsin
5:30 p.m.
The Home of Jane & Chris Clark,
6101 S. Highlands Ave.,
Madison.
Sponsorship Levels: $500, $250 & $100
$50.00 minimum suggested contribution
RSVP Lily at LilyJ@KathleenFalk.com or (608) 620 - FALK. Fundraiser for Rep. Kevin Petersen
5:30 p.m.
7399 County Road A,
Almond.
Special Guest Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch
$50 Suggested Contribution
All PAC and individual contributions gratefully accepted.
Please send contributions to:
Petersen-Republican for 40th Assembly
PO Box 227
Waupaca, WI 54981
RSVP to kevin@GOPetersen.com Thursday, April 19th Fundraiser for Rep. John Steinbrink 5:30 p.m.
The Brat Stop,
12304 75th St.,
Kenosha.
All Individual and PAC contributions gratefully accepted
RSVP to jrfarmerz@aol.com
Please send contributions to Citizens for Steinbrink, 8640 88th Avenue, Pleasant Prarie, WI 53158
Or give online here: https://secure.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/16018 |
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